Things cut off things cut back

Jesus said the vine dresser 'cuts off every branch...that doesn't produce fruit, and he prunes [cuts back] the branches that do bear fruit so they...produce even more' (John 15:2 NLT).Notice two things: (1) God cuts some things off. 'What kind of things?' Things you're comfortable with but that stand in the way of your progress. Things he hasn't chosen for you. Things that will bring you trouble. Things that refuse to change. Things that have served their purpose. (2) God cuts some things back. A fruit tree that's just been pruned certainly doesn't look its best. And when God starts cutting back certain things in your life in order to redirect your energies, for a while you may not look so good either. Sometimes this means letting go of things you thought would always be there, or reprioritising your life, or making do with less for a while, or not being able to explain to your loved ones why you're going through the pruning process. But life-giving sap flowing into a barren branch with no potential for fruitfulness is a waste! And so is time, attention and energy taken from first things and given to second and third things.Understand this: God knows what needs to be cut off in your life, and he knows what needs to be cut back. And although you may not understand what he's doing, pray: 'Send whoever you will and take away whoever you will. I'll praise you when they come and I'll praise you when they go, because your approval is my reward and your purpose is my reason to live.'